Miniature rose plant named ‘KORtufee’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose with long lasting, novel dark pink flowers, and attractive foliage with very good disease resistance. It exhibits compact and uniform growth with abundant flowers. The new variety propagates well from cuttings and by grafting. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of genus and species: The botanical classification of the newrose plant is Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: The denomination of the new variety is ‘KORtufee’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of rose plant of the present invention originated from acontrolled crossing in a breeding program of two distinct parents duringthe summer of 1992. The crossing was between ‘The Fairy’, a non-patentedrose and an un-named seedling.

The resulting seeds were planted during the following winter. Theresulting seedlings were evaluated and exhibited distinctive physicaland biological characteristics. The new rose plant was selected as asingle plant from the seedling beds due to its superior characteristicsand asexually propagated for further evaluation. This new anddistinctive rose variety is named ‘KORtufee’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘TheFairy’ by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘KORtufee’ has deep pink flowers while the seed parent has        light pink flowers, and    -   2. ‘KORtufee’ has better disease resistance.

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anun-named seedling by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The applicant has smaller flowers with more petals than the        parent variety,    -   2. The applicant has less vigorous growth than the parent        variety.

The objective of the hybridization was to create a new and distinct roseplant with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Compact and uniform growth and flowering on plants propagated        from both cuttings and grafting;    -   2. Abundant attractive, recurrent flowers;    -   3. Attractive and abundant foliage, and;    -   3. Resistance to diseases encountered in landscapes and gardens.

This combination of qualities is not present in prior rose cultivars.These objectives have been substantially achieved and in thatdistinguish ‘KORtufee’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of a rose development program, Tim-Hermann Kordes germinatedseeds from the aforementioned hybridization and conducted evaluationsand observations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environmentin Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany. The resulting seedlings exhibiteddistinctive physical and biological characteristics. The new rose plant‘KORtufee’ was selected in May, 1993 from the seedling beds to beasexually propagated for further evaluation. The first asexualpropagation of ‘KORtufee’ was done by budding to seedling understocks inJuly, 1993 at the W. Kordes Söhne Nursery in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop,Germany.

This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlledenvironments show that the foregoing and all other characteristics of‘KORtufee’ come true to form and are transmitted through succeedinggenerations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems of ‘KORtufee’.Specifically illustrated in SHEET ONE are flowers and foliage on a plantin bloom.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of ‘KORtufee’, as observed in its growthin summer 2004 on plants of 2 years of age in a field nursery inSparrieshoop, Germany on plants of 1 year of age. Color references aremade using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) ColourChart, 2001 except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘The Fairy’, a non-patented rose variety are compared to ‘KORtufee’ inChart 1.

CHART 1 Characteristic ‘KORtufee’ ‘The Fairy’ Flower color Red-PurpleGroup 67 A. Red Group 37 C. Flower petals. Very double. Double.

-   Parents:    -   -   Seed parent.—‘The Fairy’.        -   Pollen parent.—‘Un-named seedling’.-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical classification.—Rosa hybrida, ‘KORtufee’.        -   Commercial classification.—Miniature rose.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon Upening, 12-15 mm in length from base of            receptacle to end of bud.        -   Bud form.—Pointed ovoid.        -   Bud color.—As sepals first unfold, bud color is Red-Purple            Group 71C. When ¼ open, the upper surface of petals is            Red-Purple Group 67B, and the lower surface is Red-Purple            Group 67A.        -   Sepals.—Size: Average 25-30 mm long×8-10 mm wide. Shape:            Moderate foliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals.            Sepal apex is cirrose. Base is flat at union with            receptacle. Quantity: Five. Surface texture: Upper and lower            surfaces covered in fine hairs. Stipitate glands on margins            of the sepals. Color: Upper surface Green Group 138A. Lower            surface Green Group 138A.-   Receptacle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green Group 138A.        -   Shape.—Funnel.        -   Size.—6-7 mm (h)×8-10 mm (w).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth to lightly pubescent.        -   Length.—30-50 mm average length.        -   Diameter.—2-3 mm average diameter.        -   Color.—Green Group 138A.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Borne.—Multiple flower buds per stem, generally 15 to 25.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—Light fresh scent.        -   Duration.—On the plant 4-6 days. Senesced petals drop away            cleanly.        -   Size.—Small flowered garden rose. Average flower diameter is            25-35 mm when open.        -   Form.—Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upon            opening, upper part: Flattened convex. Upon opening, lower            part: Flat. Open flower, upper part: Flattened convex. Open            flower, lower part: Flat.-   Color:    -   -   Upon opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side:            Red-Purple Group 67A. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 67B.            Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group 67A. Inner            Side: Red-Purple Group 67B.        -   Upon opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot, outermost            petals: Outer Side: White Group 155C. Inner Side: White            Group 155C. Basal petal spot, innermost petals: Outer Side:            White Group 155C. Inner Side: White Group 155C.        -   After opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side:            Red-Purple Group 67B. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 67C.            Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group 67A. Inner            Side: Red-Purple Group 67B.        -   After opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot,            outermost petals: Basal petal spot, outermost petals: Outer            Side: White Group 155C. Inner Side: White Group 155C. Basal            petal spot, innermost petals: Outer Side: White Group 155C.            Inner Side: White Group 155C. Variegations: Occasional white            streak on the guard petals.-   General tonality: On open flower Red-Purple Group 67B No change in    the general tonality at the end of the 4^(th) day. Afterwards,    general tonality is Red-Purple Group 67C.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal count.—Approximately 45-55 petals under normal            conditions.        -   Petal reflex.—Petals reflex slightly.        -   Petal edge.—Entire.        -   Petal shape.—Apex shape is deltoid. Shape of base is acute.        -   Petal size.—15 mm long; 10 mm wide.        -   Thickness.—Average.        -   Petal arrangement.—Generally in a regular pattern with            overlapping edges.        -   Petaloids.—Average of 8-10 per flower. Shape: Linear.            Average size: 8 mm in length and 2-3 mm in width. Color of            the outer side is Red-Purple Group 67A. Color of the inner            side is Red-Purple Group 67B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—Approximately 30. Stigmas: Location: Slightly            inferior in location to anthers. Color: Yellow Group 1D.            Styles: Length: 5 mm long. Color: Yellow-Green Group 150D.        -   Stamens.—Quantity: Approximately 30. Anthers: Size: 6-8 mm            long. Color: Yellow-Green Group 150D. Pollen: Generally            present.//Absent. Color: Greyed-Orange Group 174D.            Filaments: Color: Yellow-Green Group 150D. Length: 6-8 mm.

THE PLANT

-   Plant growth: Moderate vigor. Compact habit. When grown as a budded    nursery plant the average plant height is 50 cm and the average    plant width is 40 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—Young wood: Green Group 138A. Older wood: Green            Group 138A.        -   Stem surface.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.-   Prickles:    -   -   Incidence.—Few. 2 per 10 cm of stem.        -   Size.—Average length: 4 mm.        -   Color.—Immature and mature prickles Greyed-Red Group 181D.            Senescing to Grey-Brown 199C.        -   Shape.—Linear.-   Leaves and leaflets: Normally 5 leaflets on normal leaves in middle    of the stem.    -   -   Leaf size.—80-85 mm (l)×55 mm (w). Average size of the            terminal leaflet is 30 mm (l)×22 mm (w).        -   Shape.—Pointed oval. Basal shape obtuse. Apex shape is            narrowly acute.        -   Quantity.—Average abundance.        -   Texture.—Matte to slightly glossy. Smooth.        -   Color, mature foliage.—Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A.            Lower Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A.        -   Color, juvenile foliage.—Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group            137A. Lower Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A.        -   Anthocyanin intonations.—Present. Greyed-Purple Group 183C            on juvenile leaves, leaflets, petiole, rachis, prickles, and            stipules.-   Stipules:    -   -   Size.—15-17 mm (l)×6-8 mm (w).        -   Stipule color.—Green Group 137A.        -   Presence of stipitate glands.—Present on margins.        -   Margins.—Bearded.-   Petiole: Smooth to lightly pubescent underneath.    -   -   Length.—10-12 mm.        -   Petiole color.—Green Group 137A.        -   Prickles.—Generally absent.        -   Stipitate glands.—Present.        -   Diameter.—1.5 mm average diameter.-   Petiole rachis:    -   -   Color.—Green Group 137A. Anthocyanin on juvenile petiole            rachis more concentrated in margins.        -   Prickles.—Small prickles located on underside.        -   Stipitate glands.—Present. Generally on margins.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Margins.—Finely serrated.        -   Texture.—Leathery.-   Hips/seed formation: None observed.-   Winter hardiness observation: To date, the new variety has been    grown successfully in Zone 5.-   Disease resistance: Excellent resistance to black spot, powdery    mildew, and rust under normal growing conditions.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) forms attractive, longlasting dark pink flowers; (b) exhibits compact and uniform growthhabit; (c) propagates well using traditional methods, and; (d) exhibitsexcellent resistance to disease under normal growing conditions;substantially as herein illustrated and described.